Simbine carries SA relay team to silver medal
After getting off to a wobbly start, the national team recovered well on Sunday, bringing their maiden campaign to a superb close by bagging a medal and snatching two crucial qualifying spots at the IAAF World Relays in Yokohama.
Though they were not at their best over Olympic distances, the SA squad shone in the men’s 4x200m final by earning silver behind the United States.
Having clocked 1:20.64 in the morning heats, shattering the 17-year-old African mark of 1:22.06 which had been held by Marcus le Grange, Mathew Quinn, Josef van der Linde and Paul Gorries, the national team went even quicker in the final.
With a line-up featuring Simon Magakwe, Chederick van Wyk, 17-year-old Sinesipho Dambile and Akani Simbine, the quartet put up a solid fight.
And while national 100m record holder Simbine was unable to chase down the American team on the final leg, despite making a valiant effort, he crossed the line in 1:20.42, clipping 0.22 off the continental record which had been set in the opening round by Jon Seeliger, Anaso Jobodwana, Dambile and Van Wyk.
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